SECONDAKY CAUSES 263 



capricious and unamenable to law as did the wind and 

 rain to our forefathers. And, until they are reduced 

 to order, and we understand how and why they arise, 

 we must be careful not to push the doctrine of 

 secondary causes too far. Mr. Herbert Spencer 

 would account for everything by what he calls 

 " equilibration ;" but that is merely a word and not 

 an explanation. Possibly, in the future, when we 

 understand why variations occur, it may be found to 

 be a useful word ; but, as used by Mr. Spencer, it 

 is only a cloak to hide our ignorance. 



But this doubt, as to how far secondary law ex- 

 tends, need not disturb us. If we are satisfied that we 

 see in the progress of evolution, or in the origin of 

 life, or in the existence of free-will in man, a con- 

 vincing argument for the belief in design, it is 

 enough; and we may allow, without compunction r 

 that it is impossible to say how far back secondary 

 law extends. 



